The construction of a “mystical” medical clinic will soon be underway in the Parkville Commons.
On Tuesday night, Sean Ackerson, assistant city administrator and community development director, presented an overview of the significant changes proposed to the Parkville Commons Campus Plan to the board of aldermen.
The amended plan to the medical clinic located in the Parkville Commons involves the construction of a two-story building that will host a medical center quite unique from its counterpart.
The new plans call for a 16,100 square feet medical facility complete with a demonstration kitchen where “chef healthy samples” will be prepared. The interior design of the building will be a non-conventional medical clinic, which will resemble more of a spa than a standard medical office space.
The plan proposes the construction of a facility comprised of 16 exam rooms and the need for minimal parking spaces as a result of its no-wait concept.
The architectural plans set forth a façade containing limestone, cedar siding, as well as earth tone cement board. The building will contain rooftop gardens, green roofs, patios, balconies and other unique features.
Chris Williams of Briarcliff Reality, LLC, and Douglas Beykly, an architect with AECON, briefly explained the new concept as a way to significantly lesson the patient’s waiting time. Williams explained that due to client confidentiality the owners requested they refrain from exposing who the exact clients would be and revealed only that the focus at the facility would be on the health and wellness of clients. Their brief overview of the medical facility resulted in more questions than answers among board members.
“It is a little mystical as to why this medical office building is going to be so much more unique and different than other medical office buildings that see patients regularly,” said Alderman Marc Sportsman. “Without the owner here to answer those types of questions I guess it will remain somewhat mystical as to how there aren’t going to be lines, there aren’t going to be delays, patients show up, there’re treated and off they go. There’s not this back log of patients that seem to be everywhere else you go to get treated.”
Board members grew tired from their relentless effort to extract bits of information from the architect about the type of medicine that would be practiced in the new facility. Alderman Jim Werner asked if it was typical for the board to approve the use of a building without knowing the exact nature of the occupants that plan to utilize the space.
Another area of contention among board members involved the plan for two on-site parking lots. The plan proposes 16 parking spaces in the south lot and 18 additional spaces in the north lot.
Werner inquired whether these same parking requirements would exist for a more a conventional retail store or business.
“What happens if the concept fails and in two years from now we are looking at an empty shell?” asked Werner. “Thinking a little longer term, perhaps not having quite as much blind faith in the concept as some others, I just want you to help me think through that.”
Ackerson said the proposal for the medical office building includes 41 diagonal parking spaces, as well as sharing parking spaces from area lots. A mixed use and conventional office space would require less than what is currently proposed, explained Ackerson.
“At the time they completed the Parkville Commons Master Plan in August, they evaluated the parking for the entire development and did a spreadsheet that showed for the entire Parkville Commons Development they are in excess of parking for the uses that are both existing and planned,” said Ackerson.
The board unanimously approved the application for the amended construction plans for the no-wait medical center.
The Parkville Commons Campus Plan approved on Aug. 16, 2011 proposed a building consisting of 19,521 square feet. The interior of the facility called for a conventional medical office space along with a café. Ackerson cited a change in tenants as the reason for the significant modifications to the preliminary plans.
Construction work for the facility is set to begin Feb. 1. Williams anticipated that by mid-summer the building would have occupants.
In other news, the board unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing the hiring of Andrew Lorenson and Jason Lederer as police officers for the city.
Lederer, a resident of Blue Springs, served as a road deputy with the Platte County Sheriff’s Office from1999 to 2005 and has served as an officer of Weatherby Lake.
Lorenson, a resident of Kearney, graduated from Blue River Academy in April of 2011 and completed his associate’s degree from Hutchinson Community College. Lorenson previously worked for the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department.
Police Chief Kevin Chrisman said, “With the addition of these two new hires, I am finally at full strength with 17 police officers.”
Chrisman also announced hunters thinned a grand total of 42 deer from the local hear. Another managed hunt will begin Sept. 15.
